Short & Sweet (Teen)

Lauren is happy dating Ian, but she is dreading exchanging Christmas gifts.Last year, when she was dating Ben, she gave him a funny T-shirt, and he broke up with her, saying she was obviously not serious about their relationship. She is determined not to let that happen again. After consulting with several friends, Lauren believes she has landed on the perfect gift.It's not until she opens Ian's gift, however, that she begins to suspect she has made another mistake, this time by trying to be someone she isn't.~*~"Dear sweet (main character) Lauren, I felt your hopes build and shatter. I wanted to wrap you up in the biggest hug and tell you to be yourself and trust your instincts. A great short story by Katie Fitzgerald." -Desi Stowe, author of the Charleston Harbor series"There's something so real about the way Fitzgerald writes young love in The Gift of Christmas Present-all the overthinking, the sweet disasters, the moments that make you laugh and yearn at the same time." -Mina Beckett, Pushcart Prize Nominee, Award-Winning Author & Publisher"Anytime I have the chance to read one of Katie's stories, I know I'm in for a sweet treat. It was no surprise that this story put a smile on my face instantly!" -Elise Gilmore, author of Truffle and Truth~*~This short story originally appeared in The Gift Exchange: A Young Adult Holiday Anthology, released by And You Press, an imprint of Nicole Frail Books, in November 2025. This ebook includes a holiday playlist as well as the story of the author's real-life inspiration for this cozy YA romance.